North Carolina State Facts

Here’s some fun state facts about North Carolina. If you’re looking to call this beautiful state, “Home” soon, our entire team at Raleigh Mortgage Group is here to help.

Population

  • +10 million—ranked 9th in the United States
  • +18% growth, almost twice the national average
  • 196 persons per square mile

GDP

  • $508 billion—ranked 9th in the United States

Capital

  • Raleigh

Size

  • 53,819 square miles

Geography

  • Absolute Location: Between 33 degrees North and 37 degrees North latitude; between 75 degrees West and 85 degrees West longitude.
  • Relative Location: North Carolina is located in the Southeast region of the United States. The state is bordered by Virginia to the north, Tennessee to the west, South Carolina to the south and Georgia to the southwest. The Atlantic Ocean forms North Carolina’s eastern border.
  • Landforms: There are three distinct landforms of the Southeast and of North Carolina: the Coastal Plain, the Piedmont and the Appalachian Mountains. The Coastal Plain is low, flat to gently sloping land that extends along the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Much of the Southeast lies within the Coastal Plain. The Piedmont, characterized by hilly, rolling land, borders the Coastal Plain. The Piedmont extends from Virginia to Alabama. The Appalachian Mountains, the largest range in the eastern United States, stretch from Canada to northern Alabama.
  • Time Zone: North Carolina is located in the Eastern Time Zone (GMT -5, EST.  The state does observe Eastern Daylight Time).

County Government

  • Counties: 100
  • County Seat: Term for the town or city where county government conducts business (like a state’s capital city)
  • Governing Body: County Board of Commissioners—elected by citizens of the county; serve 2 to 4-year terms; 2 to 7 member board

State Bird

  • Northern Cardinal

State Flower

  • Flowering dogwood

State Animal

  • Fun fact: North Carolina doesn’t have a single state animal; instead, it has a state mammal and a state marsupial. The Gray Squirrel is the official state mammal of North Carolina. The state marsupial is the Virginia Opossum. This is the only native marsupial in North America.

Celebrities with Ties to North Carolina

  • Actor and comedian Zach Galifianakis is from North Wilkesboro. He also attended North Carolina State University, where he majored in Communications.
  • Comedian and actor Ken Jeong moved to Greensboro when he was four. He is a Duke University graduate and attended the UNC School of Medicine.
  • Actress Evan Rachel Wood was born in Raleigh and was involved in Raleigh’s Theatre in the Park.
  • Musician Luke Combs was born in Huntersville and grew up in Asheville.
  • Basketball superstar Michael Jordan moved to Wilmington in 1968. He played high school basketball and received a scholarship to play at UNC.

Fun North Carolina Tourist Spots

  • The Outer Banks is a popular tourist destination for beach lovers who want to enjoy a fun waterfront area. There are watersports, shops, restaurants, and more. The Outer Banks is known as a family-friendly destination with plenty of activities for people of all ages.
  • Visit the Biltmore Estate, America’s largest home, which was built by George Vanderbilt. Enjoy this scenic 8000-acre estate located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville.
  • Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a fun spot for hiking and scenic drives. It is also known for its diverse plants and animal life.
  • Race car enthusiasts will love a stop at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Explore the legends of the sport while learning about the history of NASCAR.

Fun Facts

  • The Wright brothers made the first successful airplane flight in Kitty Hawk in 1903. North Carolina is known as “First in Flight”, which is also written on all state license plates.
  • The University of North Carolina was the first public university in the country to have a graduating class.
  • Pharmacist Caleb Bradham created the first Pepsi soda in New Bern.
  • Vicks VapoRub was created in North Carolina.

Motto

  • “To be rather than to seem”

Nickname

  • “Tar Heel State”

Climate

  • The state has a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers. Winters are mild, while mountain regions are cooler.

State Colors

  • Red and blue

State Song

  • The North State